Our first window

Well its Christmas already and with 10 days off another big working bee is planned. First job on Christmas day while Tina cooks the turkey I cut the frame and weld it together around the window. Next job is to cut the hole in the container hopefully the same size as the frame. It goes together OK but I need to make a better guide for the plasma cutter. It takes most of the day but it is in and finally we have a window now  all we need is a breeze because it is quite hot.

Roof beams are launched

We have over the last couple of weekends though finished prefabricating the roof beams. So they were all bolted together posts fitted and prepared to weld onto the roof.
 
It has rained heaps in Tully early this week and we were worried we would have to cancel the erection of the beams. But it fined up later in the week and it was hot as hell and sunny when we arrived on Saturday morning sporting fine hangovers form another work Christmas party.
 Our neighbour Chris brought over his tractor with a lifting device which was not quite high enough, back to the farm to find the extension bar and we were into it. The first one is always the hardest and with the Safety Officer on watch (Tina) there were a few nervous moments but the first one was in place and tacked on to secure it. On to number 2 which was much easier and number 3 was fine as well. Looking good an lining up well, but onto number 4 this one was a problem because it was the only one we could not reach properly so we move out the extension bar and secured it precariously on the end of the beam (more nervous moments form the safety officer) but we got it in place and No. 5 was easy.

 Well that was over great work, well not really now I have to go back and fully weld them all. 34° burning sun n top of a hot tin roof with a welder. It was so hot and we got 9 of the 20 support posts fully welded that night. We knocked off and were both completely buggered time to celebrate Tina’s birthday with Prawns and Morton bay bugs. I have heard a rumour some folks down south have gone of their bugs, but I have got to say these were the fattest plumpest juiciest bugs I have had, and they were delicious.

 

So Sunday was left to weld the rest of the posts, close of some roof gaps with plate and clean up. All done and once again we were stuffed. A lot of storm activity was building up in the afternoon but missed us bit it did cool off a bit with the cloud cover.

We planted some more trees including a new Mango, Orange, tropical apple and pecan tree. Tina is going to learn how to make pecan pies. It was the first time we stayed over Sunday night so we got a lot more done and we drove to work Monday morning.

Roof beams up and fully welded a great milestone completed J

The Great Plasma Cutter experience

We have had a couple of weekends away since the last big working bee so progress has been a little slow.
However Tina and I have managed to mulch all the plantings we have done so far using some Cyclone Yasi mulch we got from the council. 

We have cut our first hole inside the container using the Plasma cutter MK2. It’s a long story but the first one I was sold would not run on the generator and we even purchased a $ 250 extension cord (on advice from Brian) to try to run it of the mains from our neighbours pump circuit board. All to no avail so after I took it back and had a bit of dummy spit, I parted with more money for a better one that was guaranteed to work on my 8Kva geny.

So with the new Plasma cutter in hand we cut out the first hole in between the lounge and dining area. The container walls are made of quite thick panel so we have to cut them off in about 900mm pieces. This takes a long time, is bloody hot and the burning of the special paints and coatings they use are quite noxious.  So one hole down but because the 2 containers are side by side we will need to repeat this for the second wall to get the full opening.

Tully rain fills the tank

We have water

I managed to pick up a load of seconds paver from a local manufacturer and it is our intention to fully pave under the workshop roof. This will need quite a bit of thought about slope run off etc as the rain comes in some mighty angles so there is always some water underneath the roof.

 
Tina and I head back on the weekend and with the tank connected awaited rain. They always say be careful what you wish for and down it came 100mm filling the tank in about 2 ½ hours. We did manage to fit the barge nesting channels on the workshop roof, weld the workshop containers to the stumps and fix up some water runoff issues. With all the rain we had some time to remove numbers from the containers  which seems to be a never ending job. There was a bit of of OH&S incident but we can report no serious injuries.

Brian and the Roof beams

Tina’s dad Brian is down for a friends party and kindly stays on for a few days to assist. First job we put up the gutter and wait for rain. While we wait for the main roof beams to be delivered we make all the support posts and we welded on all the brackets. I got the plates pre-fabricated this time with all the holes punched and cut to length which saved heaps of effort.

3 main beams arrive and after we are set up Brian welds on all the end plates and cleats. There was some delay between the delivery of the remaining beams so we carried on to other jobs. We did this all week in hot dry conditions on top of metal shipping containers. Hard work, but we had cold beers to keep us hydrated. So by the end of the week all 10 main roof beams are welded up with all the posts made as well. Just need to weld on the end cleats which I’m getting made this weekend of course then Tina needs to paint them.

So a special thanks to Brian who’s help has progressed us weeks ahead.

roof completed,tank in place

We return to the block after the week and the rain has washed over the back embankment and washed away quite a lot of soil under the roof. After some despair we pick ourselves up and carry on. We finish the last sheets on the roof and prepare the gutter but they did not supply any brackets so we could not finish it off. The tank has been delivered and we put it in place.

We have roof - well nearly

The morning weather is fine and we make a start first the insulation foil and then sheets, now these things are 9m long so are bloody hard work to get on the roof. But after a long day we have 5 of the 12 sheets on and finished. Wow a roof just in time for an afternoon thunder storm and showers. Sunday we are up early and into it more insulation and sheets and we get 10 of the 12 completed, with an insulation shortage stopping us form completing the roof. It is flahs and after 6 months our weary Tarp comes down and we have undercover living and workshop area.  

It turns out just in time to as a rain depression hits early in the week and dumps 700mm+ in 3days so we spent 4 weeks hoping our new plants didn’t die in the heat now they are probably washed away.

Workshop roof in progress

With no serious job prospects coming to fruition yet I’m back down the block in an effort to complete the workshop roof. It is a lot of work fabricating all the supports and brackets as well as welding all the cleats to the roof beams. I tackle some other little jobs around the place as there is no end to the work  to do.

Tina helps me lift beams 1-3 on the roof and after I realise they are around the wrong way. We swap them around and all is good. Tina heads back to Cairns for another week of week. My aim this week is to have all 4 beams  fully welded in place with purlins fitted so when Tina gets back next weekend we can fit the roof sheets. There is the odd dram during the week but mostly the heat creates problems with 35 + each day working on top of metal shipping containers. This really takes it out of me each day but come Friday afternoon the roof is ready for sheeting.

The stumps are in

The dry season contiunes

After a  week off to travel to Adelaide for Mel & Glen’s wedding I’m back on site. While away Tully had some serious rain with 100mm and 40mm falling over 2 days. This was going to test my blocks and recent work at the workshop. Well all is good with only a few holes full of water. Doesn’t look like much soil washed into them so all is good. I think they have settled a little and require a bit of correction to finalise but I need Tina here for this.

So my goal was to make a workbench, workhorses and finish of my drill press table. It took longer than I expected but after 2 days they are all done. So all I need now is the steel supplier to come through. He is now holding me up. Not sure if I should focus on the stumps or the workshop roof. Need the stumps so I can get the house concreted in ASAP, but need the roof so if it rains I can make the stumps hmm.

Well back for a week this time. Tina and I spend the weekend planting shrubs in front and behind the workshop and  some drain work. We start work on making a number of brackets required to fit the workshop roof and these take a fare bit of time and gives the new drill press a good workout.

The soil in the bottom of the stump holes has swollen a little and with the wash in from last weeks rain so we have to dig about 100mm out of them all. I haven’t done the ones under the centre of the containers, I will leave them to last. Tina heads back to Cairns for the week to go to work while I stay on with plenty to do. I spend the morning mowing the block and doing some more floor work for the workshop. The stumps and workshop roof beams arrive so I can start some serious work now.

First job is to weld in place all the Stumps to the containers so we can concrete them in place before any more rain comes. This takes a good couple of days work and I have some welder problems which I later find out is related to the tip. We schedule the concrete pour for Friday and a council inspection prior to approve prior to pouring. All goes well and we get our first inspection certificate. The concrete pour goes really well but we only just scrape in enough concrete to finish the job. It is hard work trying to finish off 25 holes before they go off.

I have made all the roof supports for the workshop and they are all ready to weld in place. I tackle some other jobs including making a carry tray for the tractor using one of our spare container doors.

Lock up stage in a day

Today was a major milestone in the project with not only the 40” containers arriving but they were all to be craned into place. After a 1 week drought in Tully of course it had to rain overnight. The crane guys were not happy and seemed to lack a little confidence. ½ an hour later the containers arrived and after some deliberation it was decided to off load the containers down the road a bit. After this we were going to try to crane them up the hill. Although all of this was a long process and took most of the day it all went relatively smoothly and we made it up the hill fine with all 4 in place.

Now I must say they certainly bolted up nicely and with only one still in need of some minor levelling and adjustment. In fact if you look at the string lines I would be well pleased to see a house built as true.

So many colours to chose from.

All this work really wears you out and I hope I have lost some weight in the 5 days I have been here.
Here are some colour choices we have been toying with and my worm out gloves.

House containers arrive (2 of 4)

Finally the first 2 containers arrive they are pallet width so some extra mm’s inside. I have to cut the 4 doors of these and I hoped that Tina was here to assist. Not really sure what to do here so I left the doors shut and just cut through the hinges. Then open the doors and whammo they just fall down. To easy, next job bring it on.

now for some luxuries

We are building and indoor/outdoor toilet and shower. The toilet is a composting type very environmentally friendly (apparently no smell) and the shower is yet to be confirmed. So we need drains and soakage pits along with some water. We will have n outdoor sink also. So I have built a retaining wall to allow us to level out the area between the workshop containers.